• Welcome to the Pipe Organ Forum! This is a part of the open community Magle International Music Forums focused on pipe organs (also known as "church organs"), organists, organ music and related topics.

    This forum is intended to be a friendly place where technically advanced organists and beginners (or even non-organists) can feel comfortable having discussions and asking questions. We learn by reading and asking questions, and it is hoped that the beginners (or non-organists) will feel free to ask even the simplest questions, and that the more advanced organists will patiently answer these questions. On the other hand, we encourage complex, technical discussions of technique, music, organ-building, etc. The opinions and observations of a diverse group of people from around the world should prove to be interesting and stimulating to all of us.

    As pipe organ discussions can sometimes become lively, it should be pointed out that this is an open forum. Statements made here are the opinion of the poster, and not necessarily that of the forum itself, its administrator, or its moderators.

    In order to post a new topic - or reply to existing ones - you may join and become a member by clicking on Register New User. It's completely free and only requires a working email address (in order to confirm your registration - it will never be given away!). We strive to make this a friendly and informative forum for anyone interested in pipe organs and organ music.

    (Note: If you wish to link to and promote your own website please read this thread first.)

    Many kind regards
    smile.gif

    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

Any other Catholic church organists here?

methodistgirl

New member
catholic church organist

Sorry I'm not really catholic but I am a Methodist. That's close enough
for me. We are kinda like that without all of the masses. We are more
typical of all of the other protestant churches. Just keep looking help
is on it's way. Just pray about it.
judy tooley
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Sorry I'm not really catholic but I am a Methodist. That's close enough for me.

I''ve been a Lutheran all my life, but the experience I had playing in that particular RC church was one of the most gratifying in my entire church organist career that has encompassed 47 years so far. We had some Methodists and Lutherans in that church choir, too.
 

kas

New member
Resurrecting this old thread...haven't come back to this for years so thought I'd stop in to see if anything new has been added. At this point I'm at $62 per service...this is after playing 20 years at the same church (my own parish). Over the last few years the annual increase has dwindled down to $1 per year. I'd almost rather no increase, since it sort of feels like the $1 is being given solely cause the priest feels that he has to offer something and yet would probably rather not (?) Might be interpreting this wrong, but, I mean....really....a buck a year?? 5 years ago I assumed direction of the youth choir (formerly was basically just accompanist) after our permanent Deacon retired from directing the group. I've always gotten a cash gift with a thank-you card from the priest for both Easter and Christmas, but was a bit disappointed to find that, since taking over - which entails MUCH more work - I now research and get new choir music (even pay for it myself), do all the clerical work with the choir binders, do all the planning and rehearsing, etc. - and yet there has been no increase in the cash gifting compared to what I got for just accompanying. I have not minded taking on the extra responsibilities and in fact have in many ways enjoyed working with the group, but....ya know what I mean??? I have to dig down deep to avoid feeling just a l-i-t-t-l-e taken advantage of. There are other issues too. Our overall "music director" of the parish does very little for undoubtedly far more money than I get. There is very little 'spark' to try and improve or build the program. This 'director' is actively involved in performing with several local choir organizations and so the church program really takes a backseat. There is also a guitar group that does one of the weekend Masses, so along with the youth and adult choirs that totals 3 musical groups. The parish "music director", however, has virtually nothing to do with any of the groups other than the adults (he directs this every Sunday) - which is a group that has been gradually fizzling out to a handful of singers. There are never any meetings between the 3 directors of the respective groups. (I've proposed doing this but the idea was not met with any enthusiasm - as is the case with nearly everything I've ever proposed. My voice counts for nothing.) Never any collaboration between the groups either. (Actually, there's even some bad blood between two of the directors). I think you all get the idea. I just have to stay focused on what I do and keep telling myself that it is for the Glory of God - not for myself or anyone else within the parish. Still, I constantly hope for some sort of change for the better.
 
Last edited:

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Yikes, only $1 per year raise? It's common knowledge (at least here in the US) that the RC parishes have the lowest pay rates, except if you are at a Basilica or Cathedral, or a Diocesan parish.

The Protestant churches pay considerable more. I'm at about $117 per service. I play 3 services, one of which is solely on piano. No choir rehearsals as the choir has its own paid accompanist and paid director.

I'm a salaried employee at my church ... only benefit is having 3 weeks (weekends) paid vacation each year and usually get between 2.8 and 4.0% salary increase each year.

We are fortunate to have a paid music staff of five professional musicians, and we all get along famously and plan worship events together. Two worship leaders, one choir director, one choir accompanist, and one staff organist/pianist (me).

We are the 2nd largest ELCA Lutheran congregation in our region (Southern Arizona). Central Arizona (Phoenix metropolitan area) has much larger churches.
 

kas

New member
Krummhorn....I know what you're saying. I was subbing in the Protestant church and made as much per service 40 years ago as I am now! Upside is that I'm under no contractual obligations whatsoever, can take Sundays off whenever I want and have no responsibility to secure a substitute. That's all on the parish music director (more like his wife who takes care of most of the scheduling, etc.).
 
Last edited:
Top